Reviews

REVIEWS

BOOKS

Return to our roots

Not Religion, but love – Practising a radical spirituality of compassion, by
Dave Andrews. Lion £7.99

RADICAL is perhaps a rather overused word in Christian circles. Especially when bold radical claims are wedded to dull rehearsals of anything but what takes us back to the roots of our faith.

Dave Andrews is an exception – in this book he does seek to return us to our Christian roots. He does so in an attempt to restore to the Church the compassion that characterises its founder.

Each chapter includes skilfully amplified versions of biblical passages. There follows a hard-hitting application of the account to today’s world. I guess that it is in this area that Dave Andrews is the most authentic – not content to sound off about us Christians being radical, he takes the costly step of showing compassion in practice. The book is full of 'on the edge' accounts of seeking to show Christian compassion in real life settings.

If there were a criticism, it would be that the author so emphasises the imperatives of Jesus that the relationship with Jesus that underpins all such activity is all but ignored!

The book concludes with four stimulating sections on the words of Jesus, stories, resources and courses that can stir, inspire, inform and transform the heart.

I couldn’t help but think of the words of Jesus – "Now that you know these things you will be blessed if you do them!"

Dave Andrews includes his e-mail address at the back of the book, so I sent him the review and here is the reply:

'Dear John,
I think the review is fine. I’m glad you liked the book. It's interesting that you think that "the relationship with Jesus that underpins all such activity is all but ignored". To me it’s central to the book. But it’s more explicit in Christi-Anarchy. And more implicit in Not Religion But Love.
Don’t forget, that Not Religion But Love is published as a sequel to Christi-Anarchy and starts where that book finishes. Anyway, hope that helps clarify where I’m coming from.
All the best – Dave.'

Having read Christi-Anarchy I would agree with Dave – so there are two books for you to read! I don’t think that you will be disappointed.

John Woods is pastor of Lancing Tabernacle in West Sussex

Creative evangelism

Jesus and the Gods of the New Age, by Ross Clifford and Philip Johnson. Lion, £8.99

AN esoteric 'Mind, Body, Spirit' festival comes to your town. Do you: a) Ignore it? b) Stand outside, protesting? or c) Run a stall inside? In other words – are today’s new religious movements irrelevant to the Church, or a threat, or an opportunity? Most Christians have so far kept a safe distance from New Agers, or seen them as a threat – even part of a demonic conspiracy.

Australians Clifford and Johnson find such approaches misguided and unproductive. Instead, they exhibit at New Age festivals and routinely engage in friendly conversation with tarot readers, pagans, mediums, and holistic healers.

The authors’ basic approach is to be positive about the spiritual searching that draws people towards the New Age, to dialogue in a tone of respect, but to show how the quest for spirituality and cosmic healing can only be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. They quote with approval the work of Christian anthropologist Don Richardson, who looked for ‘redemptive analogies’ in people’s own cultures as an entry point for the Gospel.

Each chapter recounts conversations with real-life devotees of different New Age paths. Along the way we learn a lot about their beliefs, and what an appropriate presentation of our faith might look like. The authors also give helpful suggestions for how our churches can do more to tap into today’s spiritual hunger.

This is quite simply the most positive, creative and thought-provoking book I’ve read on faith and evangelism in today’s culture (and I’ve read quite a lot of them). Highly recommended.

Mike Starkey is a vicar in North London and an author

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		REVIEWS BOOKS Return to our roots Not Religion, but love – Practising a radical spirituality of compassion, by Dave Andrews. Lion £7.99 RADICAL is perhaps a rather overused word in Christian circles. Especially when bold radical claims are wedded to dull rehearsals of anything but what takes us back to the roots of our faith. Dave Andrews is an exception – in this book he does seek to return us to our Christian roots. He does so in an attempt to restore to the Church the compassion that characterises its founder. Each chapter includes skilfully amplified versions of biblical passages. There follows a hard-hitting application of the account to today’s world. I guess that it is in this area that Dave Andrews is the most authentic – not content to sound off about us Christians being radical, he takes the costly step of showing compassion in practice. The book is full of 'on the edge' accounts of seeking to show Christian compassion in real life settings. If there were a criticism, it would be that the author so emphasises the imperatives of Jesus that the relationship with Jesus that underpins all such activity is all but ignored! The book concludes with four stimulating sections on the words of Jesus, stories, resources and courses that can stir, inspire, inform and transform the heart. I couldn’t help but think of the words of Jesus – "Now that you know these things you will be blessed if you do them!" Dave Andrews includes his e-mail address at the back of the book, so I sent him the review and here is the reply: 'Dear John, I think the review is fine. I’m glad you liked the book. It's interesting that you think that "the relationship with Jesus that underpins all such activity is all but ignored". To me it’s central to the book. But it’s more explicit in Christi-Anarchy. And more implicit in Not Religion But Love. Don’t forget, that Not Religion But Love is published as a sequel to Christi-Anarchy and starts where that book finishes. Anyway, hope that helps clarify where I’m coming from. All the best – Dave.' Having read Christi-Anarchy I would agree with Dave – so there are two books for you to read! I don’t think that you will be disappointed. John Woods is pastor of Lancing Tabernacle in West Sussex Creative evangelism Jesus and the Gods of the New Age, by Ross Clifford and Philip Johnson. Lion, £8.99 AN esoteric 'Mind, Body, Spirit' festival comes to your town. Do you: a) Ignore it? b) Stand outside, protesting? or c) Run a stall inside? In other words – are today’s new religious movements irrelevant to the Church, or a threat, or an opportunity? Most Christians have so far kept a safe distance from New Agers, or seen them as a threat – even part of a demonic conspiracy. Australians Clifford and Johnson find such approaches misguided and unproductive. Instead, they exhibit at New Age festivals and routinely engage in friendly conversation with tarot readers, pagans, mediums, and holistic healers. The authors’ basic approach is to be positive about the spiritual searching that draws people towards the New Age, to dialogue in a tone of respect, but to show how the quest for spirituality and cosmic healing can only be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. They quote with approval the work of Christian anthropologist Don Richardson, who looked for ‘redemptive analogies’ in people’s own cultures as an entry point for the Gospel. Each chapter recounts conversations with real-life devotees of different New Age paths. Along the way we learn a lot about their beliefs, and what an appropriate presentation of our faith might look like. The authors also give helpful suggestions for how our churches can do more to tap into today’s spiritual hunger. This is quite simply the most positive, creative and thought-provoking book I’ve read on faith and evangelism in today’s culture (and I’ve read quite a lot of them). Highly recommended. Mike Starkey is a vicar in North London and an author © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.